Slot closer



L. C. LUKE SLOT CLOSER Feb. 15, 1938.

Filed Jan. 11, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR'. M

ATTORNEY m mh v L. C. LUKE SLOT CLOSER Feb. 15, 193%.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 11, 1937 INVENTOR.

ATITORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES SLOT CLOSER Leo 0. Luke, Evansville, Ind., assignor to International-Door Company, Evansville, Ind., a

corporation of Illinois Application January 11,

18 Claims.

My invention relates; broadly to revolving doors and more particularly to an improved mechanism for automatically closing the longitudinally extending slot provided in the ceiling of a revolving door drum for allowing the shifting of the revolving door structure from a central position to a position adjacent one side of the revolving door with the revolving door wings in collapsed position.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplified and eificient construction of slot closer for revolving door structures.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of slot closer for the slotted ceiling of revolving doors in which the slot closing plate is mounted for oscillatory movement subject to actuation by the shaft of the revolving door when the revolving door is shifted either to a remote position adjacent one side of the revolving door drum or to a position central of the revolving door drum.

Still another objectof my invention is to provide a mounting for a slot closing plate for the slotted ceiling of a revolving door drum having means pivotally connected with opposite ends of the slot closing plate and pivotally supported with respect to the revolving door for shifting the slot closing plate to a position closing the slot in the slotted ceiling when the revolving door shaft reaches either of the limits of the path of travel thereof.

. A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of pivoted cam. means pivotally supporting a slot closing plate adjacentthe slot in the slotted ceiling, of a revolving door drum and operated by the shaft of a revolving door as the revolving door shaft reaches the limit of travel in either of the remote positions thereof for insuring the closing of the slot'of the slotted open- 40 ing when the revolving doors are either collapsed adjacent one side of the revolving door drum or journalled for normal rotative movement centrally of the revolving door drum.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the arrangement of mounting means for a slot closer operative adjacent the slotted ceiling of a revolving door drum, as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by ref erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View partially broken away and shown in section and illustrating a fragmentary portion of revolving door wings carried by the revolving door shaft in a normally central position with respect to the revolving 55 door drum and with the slot closing plate in a 1937, Serial No. 120,085

position closing the slot in the slotted ceiling; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section and illustrating the revolving door shaft shifted to the limit of its position adjacent one side of the revolving door drum; Fig. 3 5 is a perspective view illustrating in spaced arrangement the several parts constituting themounting means for the slotclosing plate of my invention, and showing the slot closing plate broken away and foreshortened; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the slot closing plate of my invention illustrating the mounting means therefor with the revolving door shifted to a central position and the slot closed; Fig. 5 is a plan View illustrating the position of the slot closing plate when the revolving door is being shifted from the normal central position to a collapsed position adjacent one side of the revolving door drum; Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the position of the slot closing plate after the revolving door has been moved 20 to a position adjacent one side of the revolving door drum with the slot closing plate closing the slot in the slotted ceiling of the revolving door drum; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a side elevational view partially in cross section and foreshortened for illustrating the slot closing plate in a position clos- 3O ing the slot in the slotted ceiling when the revolv ing door is shifted to a position adjacent one side of the drum of the revolving door; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional View of the slot closing plate illustrated in Fig. 10 and showing in section the cam means which provide for the pivotal mounting of the slot closing plate adjacent opposite ends of the longitudinally extending slot in the ceiling of the revolving door drum; and Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on line I 2| 2 of Fig. 1 with parts shown partially in side elevation.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character I designates the revolving door wings which are mounted by means of hangers 2 with respect to the revolving shaft 3. A trolley 4 is provided for supporting the revolving door shaft 3 in such a manner that rollers 5 on the frame 4 of the trolley may operate over the diametrically extending guide rails 6 for shifting the collapsed revolving door structure from the central rotative position to a position adjacent one side of the revolving door drum. The trolley 6 also carries the governor housing 1 for controlling the rotation of the revolving door wings.

The ceiling 8 of the revolving door drum is provided with a radially extending slot l2 through which the shaft 3 extends and along which the shaft 3 is adapted to be shifted in a vertical position in removing the shaft 3 from a central position to a collapsed position adjacent one side of the drum of the revolving door. The ceiling 8 is provided with a countersunk or recessed portion immediately surrounding the slot [2 for receiving the plate In which is slotted at M in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the slot l2 in ceiling 8. Slotted plate Ill is secured to ceiling 8 by suitable means such as screws II.

I provide brackets l and 25 supported on plate Ill adjacent opposite ends of slot l4 having portions directed toward each other and over the longitudinally extending slot M. The brackets l5 and, 25 are secured to plate It in any suitable manner. I have shown bracket l5 secured to plate It by means of rivets l6 passing through apertures lBa, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. I have shown bracket 25 as provided with apertures 26a for the passage of rivets 26 therethrough.

The brackets l5 and 25 serve as mounting means for the slot closing plate 23 through the interposition of disc members IT and 21. Disc member I1 is pivoted with respect to bracket l5 through the agency of the rivet member l8 which passes through aperture I8a in bracket l5 and aperture I81) in disc member IT.

The disc member I1 is provided with a radially extending notch l9 having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the vertically projecting portion 3 of the revolving door. The disc member IT has a chordal cut-away portion 20 adjacent the outer extremity of the notch 9. The disc member I! is provided with a member extending normal to the plane thereof in a position adjacent the periphery of the disc member and located on radial lines at an obtuse angle with respect to a medial radial line through the radially extending notch l9. The member 2| is headed on one side of the disc to provide a positive stop on the other side of the disc, as illustrated in Fig. 8, between disc member I1 and slot closer plate 23. Aperture 2| 1) in slot closer plate 23 provides a passage for the pivot means 2! which projects from the headed end forming the stop. There is a notch 22 provided in bracket 15 for receiving the headed stop 2| when the slot closer plate 23 is in one of its extreme positions in the oscillatory path of travel of the slot closer plate 23.

The slot closer plate 23 is provided with a pair of peripherally extending ribs 24 for strengthening plate 23 and preventing flexing thereof as endwise forces are applied to the plate in effecting oscillatory movement thereof.

Bracket 25 provides pivotal mounting means for disc member 21. A rivet 28 extends through aperture 28 in bracket 25 and through aperture 281) in disc member 2'! providing rotative mounting means for disc member 21. A radially extending notch 29 is provided in disc member 21 of slightly larger dimension than the diameter of the upwardly projecting portion of shaft 3 and into which shaft 3 moves upon approach of shaft 3 to its limit of travel to theposition adjacent one side of the revolving door drum.

Disc member 21 is provided with a chordal cut-away portion 36 adjacent notch 29 for coaction with shaft 3, as illustrated more fully in Figs. l, 5, and 6. The disc member 27 carries a member 3| adjacent the periphery of the disc and on a radial line extending at an obtuse angle with respect to a medial line through radially extending notch 29. Member 31 provides a stop on the upper face of the disc member 21 and a pivot means projecting below disc member 21 as represented by pivot member 3Ia between disc member 21 and slot closer plate 23. The pivot member 3m passes through aperture 3| b in slot closer plate 23. The disc member 21 is freely rotatable about pivot 28 and plate member 23 is adapted for oscillatory movement about pivot member 3| as a center.

Bracket 25 is notched at 32 for receiving stop 3| and limiting the oscillatory movement of plate 23.

The diametrically extending rails 6 are integrally formed from the channel shaped member 33 which extends diametrically across the top of the revolving door drum. The lower portion of channel 33 is slotted at 34 in alignment with the slots I2 in ceiling 8 and M in plate I!) for permitting longitudinal movement of the upper portion 3 of the shaft of the revolving door.

The slot closer plate 23 is capable of oscillatory movement within limits determined by the abutment of limiting stop 2 I in notch 22 in bracket I5 on the one hand and by the abutment of stop 3| in notch 32 in bracket 25 on the other hand. In addition to this arrangement of limiting stops, I provide limiting stops 35 and 36 against which the peripheral edge of slot closer plate 23 abuts. The limiting stops 35 and 36 are provided with apertures 35b and 361) through which sets of screws or other securing means 35a and 36a. extend for securing the stops 35 and 36 is position with respect to plate It.

The trolley 4 is limited in movement to a position adjacent one side of the drum of the re volving door by means of the stop 31 and adjustable screw 38 which extends therethrough.

The slot closer of my invention has proven highly effective in manufacture, assembly and production. The revolving door shaft exerts a force against the cam shaped chordal cut-away and notched portions of the disc members I! and 2! which insures a positive opening of the slot in the ceiling of the revolving door drum from a normally closed position to allow shifting of the revolving door structure from a central position to a position adjacent one side of the drum of the revolving door with an accompanying positive closing of the open slot when the revolving door shaft reaches the limit of movement thereof adjacent the side of the revolving door drum. Likewise, when the revolving door is returned to normal position, the disc members coact to automatically open the normally closed slot and automatically close the slot after the revolving door has been restored to its normal central position.

While I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments, I desire that, it be understood that modifications may be made and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims. 7

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A slot closer for the longitudinally extending slot in the ceiling of a revolving door drum through which the revolving door shaft extends, comprising supports adjacent opposite ends of the slotted portion of the ceiling, a slot closing plate, and means carried by said supports for suspending said slot closing plate for oscillatory movement for opening or closing the slotted portion of the ceiling, said means being engaged and actuated by the shaft of the revolving door.

2. A slot closer comprising in combination with a slotted plate providing a longitudinally extending path of travel for a shaft member extending therethrough, a slot closing plate, supports carried by said slotted plate, and means for suspending said slot closing plate in said supports and operative in an oscillatory path, said means being engaged and actuated by said shaft member in the shifting of the shaft member in said slotted plate for opening or closing the slot in the slotted plate. 1

3. A slot closer for the longitudinally extending slot in the ceiling of a revolving door drum through which the shaft of the revolving door is shiftable, comprising in combination with a slotted ceiling plate, supports adjacent opposite ends of the slot in the slotted ceiling plate, a slot closing plate, and rotatable means interconnecting said supports and said slot closing plate for allowing swinging movement of said slot closing plate to cover or uncover the slot in said slotted ceiling plate, said rotatable means being engaged and actuated by said shaft.

4. A slot closer for the longitudinally extending slot in the ceiling of a revolving door drumv through which the shaft of the revolving door is shiftable, comprising in combination with a slotted ceiling plate, supports adjacent opposite ends of the slot in the slotted ceiling plate, a slot closing plate, a disc member journalled in each of said supports, and a pivotal connection between said disc members and said slot closing plate, said disc members being engageable by said shaft for moving said slot closing plate for covering or uncovering the slot in the slotted ceiling plate, according to the shifting of the revolving door shaft in the longitudinally extending slot.

5. A slot closer for the longitudinally extending slot in the ceiling of a revolving door drum through which the shaft of the revolving door is shiftable, comprising in combination with a slotted ceiling plate, supports adjacent opposite ends of the slot in the slotted ceiling plate, a slot closing plate, a disc member pivotally mounted in each of said supports, a pivotal suspension for said slot closing plate between said disc members, and means for effecting an engagement between said shaft and said disc members as said shaft shifts to the limits of travel thereof in the slotted ceiling plate for covering and uncovering the slot in said slotted ceiling plate.

6. A slot closer for the longitudinally extending slot in the ceiling of a revolving door drum through which the shaft of the revolving door is shiftable, comprising in combination with a slotted ceiling plate, supports adjacent opposite ends of the slot in the slotted ceiling plate, a slot closing plate, and means for suspending said slot closing plate in said supports engageable by said shaft for moving said slot closing plate for covering or uncovering the slot according to the shifting of said shaft from one limiting position to another.

'7. A device of the character described comprising in. combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a slot closing plate member swingable from a position wholly covering the slot to a position wholly uncovering the slot, supports carried by said member, rotary devices journaled in said supports, and a pivotal connection between said rotary devices and said slot closing plate, said rotary devices being engageable by said shaft adjacent opposite ends of said slot for moving said slot closing plate for opening or closing the slot in said member.

8. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, a rotatable member journaled in each of said supports, each of said members having a radially disposed recess therein engageable with the shaft as the shaft is shifted to either end of the slot, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection, between said slot closing plate and each of said members whereby said slot closing plate is adapted to be swung into a position covering or uncovering said slot.

9. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, a rotatable member journaled in each of said supports, each of said members having a radially disposed recess therein engageable with the shaft as the shaft is shifted to either end of the slot, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection between said slot closing plate and each of said members whereby said slot closing plate is adapted to be swung into a position covering or uncovering said slot, and a limiting Stop carried by each of said rotatable members and adapted to alternately abut respectively with the said supports when said slot closing plate is shifted to either of the two positions thereof in which the slot in said first mentioned member is closed.

10. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, a rotatable member journaled in each of said supports, each of said members having a radially disposed recess therein engageable with the shaft as the shaft is shifted to either end of the slot, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection between said slot closing plate and each of said members whereby said slot closing plate is adapted to be swung into a position covering or uncovering said slot, and a limiting stop carried by each of said rotatable members and coacting with the respective supports for limiting the path of movement of said slot closing plate.

11. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, a rotatable member journaled in each of said supports, each of said members having a radially disposed recess therein engageable with the shaft as the shaft is shifted to either end of the slot, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection between said slot closing plate and each of said members whereby said slot closing plate is adapted to be swung into a position covering or uncovering said slot, and abutments carried by said first mentioned member and by said rotatable members for limiting the path of travel of said slot closing plate.

12. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, a rotatable member journaled in each of said supports, each of said members having a radially disposed recess therein engageable with the shaft as the shaft is shifted to either end of the slot, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection between said slot closing plate and each of said members whereby said slot closing plate is adapted to be swung into a position covering or uncovering said slot, said rotatable members each having a limiting stop thereon coaoting with the respective supports and said first mentioned member having limiting stops thereon coacting with one of the peripheral edges of said slot closing plate, said stops coacting to form abutments determining the extent of travel of said slot closing plate.

13. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, an angularly shiftable member journaled in each of said supports, a cam shaped deformation in each of said shiftable members engageable with said shaft, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection between said slot closing plate and each of said angularly shiftable members whereby movement of the shaft in engage ment with the cam shaped deformations in said angularly shiftable members effects a movement of said slot closing plate with respect to the long narrow slot.

14. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a support carried by said member adjacent each end of the slot, an angularly shiftable member journaled in each of said supports, a cam shaped deformation in each of said shiftable members engageable with said shaft, a slot closing plate and a pivotal connection between said slot closing plate "and each of said angularly shiftable members whereby movement of the shaft in engagement with the cam shaped deformations in said angularly shiftable members effects a movement of said slot closing plate with respect to the long narrow slot, and a stop carried by each of said aim-3,720

angularly shiftable members in a position removed from the cam shaped deformation therein through the angular distance of an obtuse angle.

15. In combination, a member formed with a relatively long and narrow closed slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a slot closing plate and means connected with said. plate and actuated by said shaft in moving into and out of the limiting positions thereof in said slot for respectively closing and opening said slot by said plate, said means being operative tomove the same portion of said plate to close said slot with the shaft in either limiting position thereof in said slot.

16. In combination, a member formed with a relatively long and narrow closed slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a slot closing plate, and means connected with said plate and actuated by said shaft in moving into and out of the limiting positions thereof in said slot for respectively closing and opening said slot by said plate, said means being operative to move said plate in an are for opening and closing said slot as said shaft is moved from one limiting position to the other in said slot.

17. In combination, a member formed with a relatively long and narrow closed slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a slot closing plate, and means connected with said plate and actuated by said shaft in moving into and out of the limiting positions thereof in said slot for respectively closing and opening said slot by said plate, said means being operative to move said plate with a component of motion normal to said slot substantially equal to the width of said slot.

18. In combination, a member formed with a relatively long and narrow closed slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a slot closing plate, and means connected with said plate and actuated by said shaft in moving into and out of the limiting positions thereof in said slot for respectively closing and opening said slot by said plate, said means being operative to move said plate with a component of motion normal to said slot substantially equal to the width of said slot and a component of motion parallel to said slot at least equal to the thickness of said shaft.

LEO C. LUKE. 

